CHAPTER 74: CHAPTER 67: DISTRIBUTING STEWED MEAT_1

Upon entering White Eagle City, Ming Yan had people exchange beast pelts for some temporary resting places within the city.

Si Yan and the cubs chose a quiet and secluded spot. The cubs found some wood, and Dongchi took it to Ming Yan, who lit it for him.

Dongchi was no longer afraid of fire. Holding the burning wood, he ignited Si Yan’s firewood.

Xi Qing and Bei Ji dug up some yellow earth fruits nearby, and Si Yan’s eyes lit up at the sight.

"After eating flavorless meat for so many days, I’ll cook something tasty for you today," Si Yan said with a smile.

She made a fresh stone pot from some rocks and cleaned it. Then, she placed sliced yellow earth fruits on the bottom layer, added freshly cut pork belly on top, and finally sprinkled it with salt.

After adding freshly filtered water, she covered it with a stone lid and let it stew.

Before long, the intermingling aroma of the yellow earth fruits and pork belly wafted out.

The Tiger Beastmen, who had been eating raw meat, all turned their gazes toward Si Yan.

"Don’t rush!" Si Yan swatted away Bei Ji’s small hand, which was reaching for the meat, his mouth watering.

Bei Ji looked at her with longing eyes, like a little kitten.

"It’s not ready yet. Let it stew a while longer," Si Yan said with a laugh. "There will be enough for all of you."

The little gluttons were extremely impatient. It wasn’t long before Si Yan finally served the food.

She placed the stewed meat and yellow earth fruits separately into newly made stone bowls for each of the cubs.

The cubs couldn’t hold back. Not waiting for it to cool, they eagerly stuffed the food into their mouths, only to yelp from the heat.

"Hot, hot, hot! Tasty, tasty!"

The cubs’ reactions made it even harder for the Tiger Beastmen to restrain themselves. But being unfamiliar with Si Yan’s group, they dared not approach.

Ming Yan turned his head and saw the family of four eating. He walked over and sat down next to Si Yan.

"Want some?" Si Yan asked naturally.

Ming Yan silently stared at the pot.

"You’ll have to carve your own bowl," Si Yan told him.

"Bowl?" Ming Yan looked at the cubs’ bowls. Understanding, he quickly and easily carved out a bowl with his claws.

Si Yan scooped up the remaining stewed yellow earth fruits and meat and handed it to Ming Yan.

Using the freshly carved chopsticks, Ming Yan tried to eat the meat just as the cubs were doing.

It was awkward at first, but he learned quickly and was soon able to eat proficiently with the chopsticks.

When the meat touched his tongue, his eyebrows twitched involuntarily.

"Tastes good, right?" Si Yan asked, tilting her head slightly with a cute smile.

Ming Yan was momentarily dazzled by her smile. It took him a few seconds to come to his senses and nod.

"It’s a pity we don’t have enough spices right now. If only we had star anise, cinnamon, and Sichuan pepper," Si Yan sighed.

"What are star anise, cinnamon, and Sichuan pepper?" Ming Yan asked.

Enthusiastically, Si Yan took a branch and began to draw. "They look like this."

The three cubs also watched but eventually shook their heads. They hadn’t seen them before.

"Have you seen them?" Si Yan asked Ming Yan.

Ming Yan furrowed his brows and finally said, "I’ve seen them in a pharmacy before."

Si Yan got excited and grabbed Ming Yan’s shoulders with both hands. "Before? Which pharmacy?!"

Ming Yan looked down at her hands.

Si Yan quickly withdrew her hands. "Sorry, I got a bit carried away."

Ming Yan replied, "White Tiger City. But White Tiger City is very far away."

Si Yan, however, was thrilled. "If White Tiger City has them, it means they exist in this world! As long as they exist in this world, I’ll find them one day!"

After all, she possessed a Wood-based Ability, and searching for plants was her specialty.

The Tiger Beastmen stared longingly at the meat in Si Yan’s pot and bowls, their mouths practically watering.

Hu Que said disdainfully, "It’s just a bite to eat, isn’t it? Look at how pathetic you all are!"

A Tiger Beastman retorted, "Oh, you’re so high and mighty? If you’re that great, then don’t you eat anything from now on!"

"I won’t eat! I won’t eat in the future. I’m not a female; what do I need salt for? What a waste," Hu Que declared.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Hu Que felt a chilling gaze sweep over him, and goosebumps rose on his skin. Turning his head, he saw Si Yan looking at him.

Could she have heard me from that far away?

Si Yan gave a slight smile. "There’s so much meat we can’t finish it all. Everyone, come and share. There’s not much left. The first ones here will each get a piece."

Ming Yan’s eyelids twitched. Looking at the meat in his bowl, he felt it wasn’t enough.

Yet, in just a moment, many Tiger Beastmen had formed an orderly queue!

"Stop pushing! If there’s none this time, there will be more in the future," Si Yan said, organizing them. "Line up, one piece each. Hu Que gets none."

Hu Que stumbled.

She actually heard me!

"I wouldn’t eat it even if you gave it to me! Who cares!" he huffed.

Si Yan quickly finished distributing the meat. The Tiger Beastmen at the back of the line started to wail, "We didn’t get any! We didn’t get any!"

"Hu Qiao, share some with me! Just a little bite, please!"

Hu Qiao swallowed a piece of meat in one gulp. Reveling in the delicious food melting in his mouth, he savored the aftertaste. "I barely have enough for myself! No way I’m sharing with you!"

"I really want some..."

Hu Que said sarcastically, "Hu Qiao, a male Beastman like you still so desperate for salt? How shameful!"

Hu Qiao snapped back, "What’s shameful about eating tasty food? You’re the one who’s crazy!"

Seeing this, Si Yan chuckled. "Hu Qiao, the meat is gone, but there are still some stewed yellow earth fruits. Do you want some?"

Hu Qiao exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, yes, yes!"

Hu Que was furious. He could tell Si Yan was deliberately trying to irritate him.

After distributing the stewed meat, Si Yan began to clean up.

"Si Dongchi, Si Xiqing, Si Beiji!" Si Yan called out to the three cubs after she finished cleaning. "Shall we go out for a walk?"

"Okay." The three cubs got ready quickly.

Si Yan held a cub in each hand, with Dongchi walking in front.

"Ugly female, what do you want to buy?" Dongchi asked.

Si Yan said, "I remember you mentioned that there might be rice and wheat in the Eagle Beastman city. Mother can’t keep eating just meat; Mother also needs some grains and vegetables. I want to buy some rice. Besides, Mother also wants to brew liquor."

"What’s brewing liquor?" Dongchi turned his head to ask her.

Si Yan explained, "Brewing liquor means making a high-alcohol drink from grains. It’s a strong beverage that males usually enjoy. With so many males in this world, it’s sure to be very popular. Mother believes that in the future, we can trade liquor for a lot of money."

"What’s money?" Dongchi asked again.

Si Yan smiled. "That would be beast pelts."

Si Yan and the three cubs continued to stroll around. Unexpectedly, the first thing they found was not rice but something resembling a large jar.

Si Yan immediately rushed over. Touching and examining the large jar from all angles, she excitedly asked, "Elder, what is this?"

"This is a red jar," the old Beastman said slowly.

The neighboring stall owner chimed in, "His red jar is useless and won’t sell. Buying it is pointless. Little cubs, why don’t you check out the good stuff I have here!"

The old Beastman got angry. "What nonsense are you spouting? This is a fine item! Don’t talk rubbish!"

"I’ll take this red jar," Si Yan said, ignoring the other stall owner and smiling. "How much is it?"

The old Beastman stroked his beard while looking at Si Yan. "Ten beast pelts."

The neighboring stall owner exclaimed, "Ten beast pelts? Why don’t you just rob someone! Look at my merchandise; it’s much better!"

Si Yan counted the beast pelts in her space. They were all from Tai Seng, exactly ten. But she couldn’t take them out of her space in broad daylight.

She found a corner, took out the beast pelts, and after exchanging them for the red jar, she returned to the corner to put it into her space.

She now had two cubic meters of space, enough to fit a large jar.

Si Yan continued searching for rice and wheat. She looked up and suddenly saw a few small White Eagle cubs squatting, selling grain. It wasn’t much, probably not even a pound, but Si Yan was instantly thrilled to her core.

"Rice! Rice! It’s actual rice!!!"

Si Yan ran over excitedly. Her sheer enthusiasm seemed to startle the small White Eagle Beastmen.

"Customer..."

"I want your rice," Si Yan said, suppressing her excitement. "All of it."

The small White Eagle slowly raised one finger.

Si Yan looked at his finger.

The small White Eagle Beastman quickly said, "Half! Half a beast pelt is enough!"

Dongchi frowned. "Half a beast pelt for such a small amount? That’s a rip-off."

Eagles and snakes don’t get along. Seeing it was a Snake Beastman speaking, the small White Eagle glared angrily. "Do you even know how precious grain is? If you ignorant snakes don’t know anything, then shut up!"

Thwarted, Dongchi glared resentfully at the small White Eagle.

Seeing the long-awaited grain, Si Yan couldn’t contain her excitement and immediately tossed the small White Eagle a beast pelt. "Here’s the pelt. I’ll take all the rice."

After trading for the rice, Si Yan’s heart brimmed with joy on the way back.

I finally have rice! I finally have rice!

Although it isn’t much, it’ll at least satisfy my craving a little!